Group by Last Name / Manually Select Last Name Rows Like a Checkbox

[CraigHarris02]

Hi:

I have a customer file with first and last names in two separate columns.

I'd want to group by last name and then have the ability to manually select specific last name rows like a checkbox. The file is too big for me to do in Excel so any suggestions how I could do this in Alteryx would greatly be appreciated.  Attached is an example of the file layout.

Thanks!

[gabrielvilella]

Hi @CraigHarris02, to get a list of all last names you can use the summarize tool. For the checkbox you mentioned, are you trying to build an analytic app? If so, what tool are you trying to update if the selection from the checkbox? 

[CraigHarris02]

Hello - Ok, I was able to group last names using the summarize tool (thanks!).  I'm new to Alteryx so I don't, as yet, know how to build an analytic app.

What I want to do now that the names are grouped, is show the list of names allowing me to manually select / check customers with certain last names please (like filtering in Excel), thanks!

[gabrielvilella]

Welcome to Alteryx! I know that in Excel there is this possibility of having a list of names that you can select from to filter the data. However, in Alteryx that is only possible when you build an analytic app. Since you are new, I would recommend to first use the regular filter tool and then change the values there manually each time. I could build an app that has that multi select option so you could use as an example, but that might be a little overwhelming. Let me know if you want that. 

[CraigHarris02]

Ok - if it's not too much trouble, yes please for an app.  I didn't mention (sorry) when using the summarize tool, it only gave me a single record of the last name versus providing all the records with that last name.  So, I don't want just the single record of "Smith", I'd want all customers grouped with the last name of "Smith."  Thanks!

[gabrielvilella · Accepted solution]

So, I thought a little more and I believe what you want is a macro so you can see and use the results within the workflow. Please check the attached file. A brief explanation is that first it is creating a file with a list of all last names. Then this file is being used on the macro to list all options that the user can select from to filter the data set. 

[CraigHarris02]

Sorry for the delay - this works, appreciate your assistance!